Tuesday, March 18, 2014

On moving abroad and [f]unemployment

Sometimes you're 27 and jobless. By choice. 

No? Just me?

So one day I decided to quit my job and move to Australia, but for a very good reason.

There were lots of very important things to consider, such as:
1. MY CATS. They deserve all caps.
2. How much will I miss Tex-Mex food?
3. Can I exist without being able to keep up with all 30 TV shows I watch?
4. Is it possible to survive without unlimited internet? 
[Side bar: HOW IS INTERNET NOT UNLIMITED?! Way to go, Australia.]
5. How the hell would I get all my clothes and shoes there in just suitcases?

Also some boring things, yet also important:
1. Do I have enough savings to do this? Does it matter?
2. What will I do for work? Real job? Bar? Zoo keeper? Kangaroo whisperer?
3. How will I handle my bills while I'm away?
4. Exactly how long will I be able to avoid getting a job before money starts becoming questionable? 

And then the sad things:
1. MY CATS.
2. My parents.
3. My friends.
4. My beloved Houston. 

All of this to say, I leave in a week. And have been [f]unemployed  for over a week. I am choosing to call it funemployment since I chose this way of life. 

And let me tell you, it's currently kind of awesome. Don't get me wrong, it's terrifying to think my bank account is only going down. No paychecks to save the day! But I get to sleep in, watch Gossip Girl to my heart's content, and spend quality time with my mom. I also like to think that the cats enjoy my stay at home mom routine I have going on right now.

Come next week I'll be funemployed in Melbourne. I have a few ideas of ways I can spend my time until Will tells me I must obtain employment:
1. Try every local meat pie shop until I find the perfect pie.
2. Workout like a beast to counteract said meat pies.
3. Get myself acquainted with the city.
4. Learn the public transportation system.
5. Figure out where to put the millions of clothing items I will have brought with me.
6. Inquire about animal volunteering opportunities.
7. Possibly taking courses in topics that interest me [i.e. classes I never took in college]
8. Have a panic attack over my dwindling bank account, thus breaking down and getting a job.

Is it horrible that at age 27 I'm totally down for having a year off? Articles on Thought Catalog would probably point out that I should have my shit together by this point, so I'm actively avoiding that website. BuzzFeed is much more supportive of my life decision.

I look at it this way: If I can find an awesome job that I love, whether it's in a related field to what I did previously or something totally different, and one that will work with my visa restrictions, I'm all for it. I may talk big about loving having no job, but in the end I know I'll feel unfulfilled if I'm not doing SOMETHING. I've never really been one to say that I'd prefer to not work ever, so I think right now I'm still riding on the high of being able to sleep past 7 am.

So here's to my year of exploration! My year of being an expat, discovering a new city/country/continent, and just enjoying the experience with my long lost boyfriend who has made it all possible. I've always wanted an adventure, and if this doesn't qualify as one I don't know what does!


5 comments:

Unknown said...

I am so so happy and excited for you (and very jealous). Enjoy your time, live it up, and keep us posted on your adventures.

P.S. What the hell is limited internet?!

Sara Louise said...

Cheers to you kid! I hope you have a blast :)
P.S. Loving the new header!

Anonymous said...

So excited to have found your blog through Sara Louise! I can't wait to follow your journey - I did the exact same thing 6 years ago, 27yrs old, walked away from a job and moved to Wellington, NZ (then after that MELBS!!). It is a great city and you're going to have a blast...if you have any expat questions or general wonderings (like jobs stuff) about Melbs feel free to email me! (I will stop now as I am tempted to give much unsolicited advice - I get excited about anyone doing this!)

Bri Buzali said...

WOW! That is so awesome, I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to read more and follow on your adventure! I just got back from a trip to Europe and have been daydreaming about packing up and moving ever since, but it's scary! I think about my friends, my family, my dog, but I also think "I'm 25 and single, when else will I be able to do this". You're brave!

Rod and Alex - aka: "Rolex" said...

So I'm really bad and have been catching-up on your blog by reading in backwards chronological order (does that make sense?).
I have to ask....
Is your new job a kangaroo whisperer? Because that would be SO awesome!

I can totally see you having your own reality show on the History Channel. :)

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